5.2.1 What Commands Are Running Now (ps)

Use the ps command to see what processes are currently running. In addition to showing the process identification number (listed under PID) for each process you own (created as a result of a command you typed), ps also shows you the terminal from which it was started (TTY), the cpu time it has used so far (TIME), and the command it is performing (COMMAND).

Adding the -l option to the ps command displays a variety of other information about the processes currently running, including the state of each process (listed under S). The codes used to show this are as follows:

• O - Process is running on a processor.

• S - Sleeping: Process is waiting for an event to complete.

• R - Runnable: Process is on run queue.

• I - Idle: Process is being created.

• Z - Zombie state: Process terminated and parent not waiting.

• T - Traced: Process stopped by a signal because parent is tracing it.

• X - SXBRK state: Process is waiting for more primary memory.

Note that while ps is running, things can change. Since the ps command gives you only a snapshot of what's going on, it's only true for a split second after you type the command. The information may not be completely accurate by the time you see it.

The ps(1) command has more options than those covered here. Refer to the man Pages(1): User Commands.